A study on public's knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding antibiotics use / Nurul Nadiah Othman

Lack of knowledge, inappropriate attitude and behaviour toward antibiotics use caused emergence and spread of bacteria that is a growing threat to public health globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate attitude, knowledge, and behaviour regarding antibiotics use among the public and to determine self-medication with antibiotic within this sample. Out of 584,000 people, 198 were chosen by convenience sampling methods in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. A questionnaire composed of fourteen ( 14) questions focused on patient demographic data, public's knowledge of antibiotic use and public's attitude and behaviour of antibiotic use was used. The mean age of this sample was 39 and 67.2% were females. 70.6% respondents knew that antibiotics are used to decrease fever and 82.2% respondents understand that they should get the pharmacist's advice in order to get the antibiotic. Besides that, 90.2% participants knew that the duration of antibiotic use should be as advised by the doctor and 74.4% participants understand that long term of inappropriate antibiotic use could lead be dangerous. 57.4% respondents did not use antibiotic to prevent illness, 82.1 % respondents did not start antibiotic by themselves when they get ill and 17 .9% use antibiotic irregularly given by the doctor. When the antibiotic was not effective, 49 .2% respondents used it for a recommended period, 46.7% respondents stop taking it and go to the doctor while only 22.1 % respondents stop taking it and go to another doctor. During the last infection, 74.6% participants used the medication prescribed by the doctor and only 3.6% participants used the antibiotic as advised by the friends. In addition, 61 % participants used antibiotic as advised by the doctor while 23 .1 % participants used antibiotic until the symptoms disappear. Public's knowledge about the appropriate antibiotic use were moderate and most of their attitude and behaviour toward antibiotic use were positive. In particular, different gender, age, ethnic and education level reflect some of their knowledge, attitude and behaviour toward antibiotic use.